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Friday, May 2, 2014

'HAPPY MUSLIMS': to be or not to be...

A CLASH OF FRENETIC HAPPINESSES

Maryam Sakeenah

While the ‘Happy British Muslims’ video would not have in
itself elicited a response more than a fleeting bemused scepticism, it was
impossible to get over it and move on, given the 2 million youtube views, the reams
of commentary and discussion it generated. The short clip apparently became the
biggest issue in the issue-ridden Muslim world, judging by social media
ratings. Ardent supporters of the attempt to showcase Muslims in the West as
adaptable and ‘happy’ people, as well as bitter opponents of such meaningless
and inappropriate depiction of Muslims, all jumped into the fray- soon enough,
there was a raging storm in a teacup.

It all signifies the contradictions, polarities,
sensitivities and contentions rife in the Muslim world- like a bubbling,
gurgling, steaming cauldron.

The video aims to present an image of Muslims in the West as
flexible, creative, adaptable, well-integrated, cheerful and positive-minded,
so as to dispel negative stereotypes that have dominated public imagination in
the West since 9/11. Imam Johari Abdul Malik from the US comments on the video:
‘The narrative about Muslims is so often
about being hungry and angry, people have started turning it around using the
social media...’

Underlying this, however, there can also be sensed a desperate
attempt to assure that ‘we are like you, too’- a desire to be accepted, owned
and integrated into Western society. This desperation can be understood in the
context of the consistently rising Islamophobia in these societies.

However, the problem with this appeasing, placatory attitude
is not so much with Muslims as it is with Western societies. These societies
seem to be growing increasingly ethnocentric, losing willingness to embrace
diversity and to allow distinct ethnic, cultural and religious identities to
survive and thrive without either being compelled to Westernize to be able to
integrate, or being socially marginalized. This goes against the essence of the
values of pluralism, tolerance and coexistence at the heart of Western liberal
tradition that it prides itself in. It is ironical and interesting to note that
while the ‘Happy British Muslims’ video was doing the rounds, Tony Blair
reminded the leaders of the Western nations to ‘move the battle against
Islamist extremism to the top of the political agenda.’ The same day that the
video was released, the English Defence League held a demonstration outside
London’s largest mosque against Islam in Britain. On this backdrop, given the
very grave challenges that beset the Muslim world, attempts like the ‘Happy British
Muslims’ video appear little more than pathetic. The efficacy of the video
message as a response to a pervasive anti-Muslim campaign is highly
questionable.

But that is not the only troubling thought. Equally
disconcerting, if not more was the impulsive and inane, utterly dispensable
video rejoinder to ‘Happy British Muslims’ video, made by some Islamic groups
on the internet titled ‘Happy Muslims, HALAL version.’ This video removed the
images of all women and re-released it as acceptable by Islamic standards-
minus the laughing, clapping, singing females. This reflects a lopsided,
immature and almost obsessive fixity on juristic intricacies of Muslim law
without even a cursory understanding and appreciation of the spirit of Islam.
Such fiqh-obsessed shallow-mindedness is often manifested in moral panics among
Muslims over the visibility of Muslim women.

It is deplorable that the makers of the ‘Halal’ version who
deservedly educed ridicule and censure utterly failed to grasp the idea of true
happiness in Islam. For one, given the plethora of grave predicaments we are
caught in, the despondency, frustration, defeatism, confusion and hurt, the
cluelessness about the future, the directionlessness and leaderlessness, the wars,
civil wars, socio-political crises and the rising monster of sectarianism-
these aren’t the happiest of times for Muslims anywhere in the world. Empathy
is an essential component of Islamic brotherhood- the fact that a Muslim must feel
the pain of another Muslim (no matter how geographically distant) as his own. I
wonder how I, as a Muslim, can clap and cheer my deep sadness away? Brecht
writes,

‘Truly I live in dark
times!...

A smooth forehead

Points to
insensitivity

He who laughsHas not yet receivedThe terrible news

What times are these, in whichA conversation
about trees is almost a crimeFor in doing so we
maintain our silence about so much wrongdoing!’

The prospect of
declining life and time and the impending oblivion of death, and the
eventuality of accountability in the eternal life is the grave and inescapable
truth one must confront. The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.’

Happiness in Islam is not the be-all and end-all. It is not
to be pursued, but in its deepest sense, it comes to those who discover and
live out their purpose in life. Orwell writes, ‘Men can only be happy if they assume that the purpose of life is not
happiness.’ Fun and entertainment as temporary relaxation have a place- and
a significant one- but happiness in Islam is gained by tasting the sweetness of
faith through complete self-surrender to God. It is attained by giving and
selfless sacrifice. ‘By Time! Man is in
Loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds and exhort one
another to the Truth and exhort one another to patience.’ (The
Quran)

Imam Johari quoted earlier, was perturbed by the image of
Muslims as ‘hungry and angry’, but one cannot wish that away or pretend that is
not the case by cheering and smiling away into the camera. Yes, Muslims writhe
in the throes of poverty, starvation and crippling oppression, but happiness is
attainable to those who do their small bit to help alleviate some of that.

This idea was tried to be conveyed in another video
rejoinder titled ‘Happy Muslims: Sunnah Version’. It is a brief, beautiful and
simple message that reflects the Islamic ethos of happiness- it shows clips of
Muslims rescuing and saving lives of the calamity-stricken, and ends with the
line, ‘This, my friend, is happiness.’ However, this video was blurred and
poorly made, and circulated briefly in a few closed Muslim circles. It never
went viral. And here is the very heart of the problem: the voicelessness and
disempowerment of the Muslim visionary, and that ‘the worst are filled with a passionate intensity.’ (Yeats)